Bay City Commission to discuss UWUA 541 contract agreement

The Bay City Commission is expected tonight to approve the contract for the second union to reach an agreement with the city.

Utility Workers Union of America Local 541 reached a contract agreement last month for a four-year agreement. The union ratified its contract before a Sept. 9 deadline set by the city commission to have laid-off workers called back.

The commission meets at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Commission Chambers of Bay City Hall, 301 Washington Ave.

The union had one employee laid off who was brought back to work with the ratification of the contract.

The only other union to ratify a contract was the Bay City firefighters, who reached an agreement in June, avoiding layoffs altogether.

The city's six other unions are continuing negotiations, with two expected to go to mediation and one, the police patrol union, headed toward arbitration.

With the passing of the Sept. 9 deadline, about 15 city employees remain laid off and their positions permanently cut from the city budget, city officials said.